Information and advice about how to keep safe and on the move during periods of severe weather in the Lancaster district.

• Follow Lancaster City Council on Twitter for local information and updates and use the links below for county-wide information and reports.
• Follow Lancashire County Council on Twitter for live updates on gritting, school closures and county-wide winter services.
• View our severe weather plan (PDF)

Gritting

Gritting in Lancashire is the responsibility of Lancashire County Council, except for on motorways and trunk roads, where it is the responsibility of Highways England.

• View a map of precautionary gritting routes in Lancashire

For further information see Lancashire County Council's Winter in Lancashire information pages.

To Report Gritting (winter service) Request a refill, repair or new grit bin: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/report-it/gritting/

The quickest and easiest way to request a refill, repair or new grit bin is via the Love Clean Streets mobile app.

Transport and travel news updates

• BBC Radio Lancashire provides regular weather and travel updates for the region

Severe weather forecasts

• Check for severe weather warnings in the north west at the Met Office severe weather warning page

School closures

• School education in Lancashire is provided by Lancashire County Council. For details of any school closures due to severe weather, visit their unavoidable school closures page.

Clearing snow and ice

If you clear snow and ice yourself, be careful - don’t make pathways more dangerous by causing them to refreeze. But don’t be put off clearing paths because you’re afraid someone will get injured.

You can buy grit for your paths and driveways from B&Q, Wickes, Homebase and builders' merchants.

• Tips for clearing snow and ice - Lancashire County Council

Health and wellbeing

During winter more people get ill or are injured than at other times of the year. The NHS has produced some top tips on keeping fit and healthy, including advice on beating the flu:

• Preparing for winter - advice from the NHS

Winter brings with it long and dark nights, the perfect feeding ground for burglars. Make sure you've taken steps to protect yourself and your property:

• Crime prevention advice from Lancashire Constabulary

United Utilities have published advice on how to prevent pipes from freezing in winter conditions:

• Get Winterwise with United Utilities

Flooding

It's not just snow and ice that we have to worry about during the winter. An increased likelihood of rain and high winds bring with them the potential to cause flooding. Check out our flooding advice page for more information on how you should prepare.